Roger Waters tackles death on his poetic versions of Pink Floyd's 'Speak To Me' and 'Breathe'
Heavy stuff
Last updated 21st Sep 2023
Roger Waters has shared his solemn yet powerful interpretation of the opening two songs on Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, ‘Speak To Me’ and ‘Breathe (Into the Air).
Released on Friday 6th October, Roger Waters’ ‘The Dark Side of the Moon Redux’ sees the co-founding member create his own version of Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album 50 years after its original release.
Just like the previously premiered songs ‘Money’ and ‘Time’, Roger Waters reimagines ‘Speak To Me / Breathe’ in his own inimitable style.
Amidst minimal atmospheric music and heart beats (à la the Pink Floyd original), Roger Waters speaks poetic lines about death on ‘Speak To Me’, which are directly lifted from Pink Floyd's 1972 'Obscured by the Clouds' track 'Free Four' - a song Waters wrote 51 years ago.
Quoting his 'Free Four' lyrics, the 80-year-old musician says: “The memories of a man in his old age - are the deeds of a man in his prime - You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room - and talk to yourself as you die - For life is a short, warm moment - and death is a long, cold rest - You get your chance to try - in the twinkling of an eye - Eighty years, with luck - or even less - So all aboard - for the American tour - and maybe, you’ll make it to the top— But mind how you go - and I can tell you, ‘cause I know— You may find it hard to get off - You are the angel of death - and I am the dead man’s son - He was buried like a mole in a fox hole - And everyone’s still on the run.”
The second part, ‘Breathe’, retains the lyrics of Pink Floyd’s seminal original song but they’re delivered in Waters’ poetic, spoken word style.
Listen to Roger Waters’ ‘Speak To Me / Breathe’:
Here's Pink Floyd's 'Free Four' from 1972:
Roger Waters will be performing ‘The Dark Side of the Moon Redux’ in its entirety at two sold-out concerts at London Palladium on Sunday 8th and Monday 9th October.
Joining Waters on stage will be Gus Seyffert (bass), Joey Waronker (drums), Jonathan Wilson (guitars), Johnny Shepherd (organ), Via Mardot (theremin), Azniv Korkejian (vocals), Gabe Noel (strings), Jon Carin (keyboards) and Robert Walter (piano).
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